For most people, there is no tastier fruit than fragrant pink peach oozing with sweet nectar.
This fruit tree requires special attention and care from the gardener, who decided to "tame" this difficult plant.
Let's try to figure out what this culture represents - peach, planting and care for it which have features. In its historical homeland, peach is accustomed to the sun and a dry, windless climate. This means that these factors must be taken into account when deciding on its landing. Is it possible to plant peach in the fall? There is no single answer to this question.
Practicing gardeners and scientists argue about the benefits of autumn and spring planting and have not yet come to a consensus. However, it is generally accepted that spring planting is suitable for colder climatic zones, and the farther south and warmer, the more justified the planting of peach in the fall. This is logical, since in the southern regions the climate is milder, sometimes frosts do not occur until the end of November, which allows the tree to take root well.
Choosing the right seedling
Do not plant a bone from a delicious fruit purchased at the market. You should not hope that you can grow a full-fledged plant from a seed - unfortunately, it does not preserve the properties of the mother tree, and the quality of the fruits will be much worse. Get a seedling in a reliable nursery. Focus on its root system. The roots should be branched, fibrous, like a sponge. This indicates their health. Do not flatter yourself with one big root, such a tree is weak, and will take root for a long time. Planting and pruning peaches are interrelated things. Before planting, you need to remove leaves and extra branches (they draw moisture and food onto themselves, preventing the roots from taking root). The best sapling is a naked short stick.
Choose a plot in the garden
Let us dwell in more detail on how the planting of peach seedlings occurs. For a tree you need to choose a suitable place. Optimal conditions are the sunny side of the garden, protected from the wind by a building or fence, at a distance of at least 1.5–2 meters from buildings and other plantings. Peach loves humus-rich loamy soils.
We are preparing a place of permanent residence
It is very important to carefully prepare the pit for planting a tree. The size of the hole itself depends on the diameter and length of the root system, on average it is 50x50x50, and more can be. When digging a hole, the upper soil (the most fertile) is laid on one side, the bottom - on the other side, without mixing them. Harvested humus is mixed with the earth from the upper part and put to the bottom with a cone. In heavy clay soil, river sand can be added. If the seedling is thin and fragile, we insert one or two sticks into the hole in advance to support the fragile tree that is still.
Sticking them after planting can damage the roots. At this stage, you need to slightly pour a hole, about a bucket of water. Carefully straighten the roots of the peach and put it on a cone from the ground.
Mineral fertilizers do not need to be laid, since this can burn the roots, the tree has enough organic matter from humus. We fill in the remaining soil from the lower horizon of the pit, again we pour 1-2 buckets of water. Gradual watering is necessary to prevent soil adhesion. The seedling is gently fixed to the stakes for support. After absorbing moisture, you can take the landing site. Tamping is done loosely, put the toe of the foot next to the trunk, with the heel we press the ground in a circle. The final touch is the mulching of the trunk circle, which allows you to regulate heat transfer around the root system of the tree. Sawdust, shavings, shredded pieces of bark, needles, dry leaves, pebbles, pebbles and much more can be mulch.
We make shelter for the winter
Planting a peach in the fall requires protecting it before winter cold. The degree of shelter depends on the region, the weather, the security of the site itself. Shelter can be stationary (for example, a frame of pipes, on which the insulation is put on) and temporary. To prepare for wintering, you need to form a mound 30 cm high above the scion around the seedling stem. This will retain heat in the roots and the root of the neck. One of the popular solutions is burlap, which wraps a seedling with sticks. The original way is to put a cardboard box filled with hay on the seedling. Preference should be given to breathable materials, or ventilation holes should be provided on the south side of the shelter. Planting a peach in the fall makes it possible to grow well in a tree and get a big gain next summer.
We cut and care
In the spring, when stable weather sets in, warm “clothes” are removed and the peach is carefully examined. Landing and caring for it require certain practical skills, especially when it comes to pruning and shaping.
Key peach pruning rules:
- Pruning before flowering in the phase of the so-called pink bud.
- Mandatory pruning of dry dead branches (sanitary pruning).
- Removing branches growing towards the central trunk and thickening the crown.
- Removal of double-branches and spinning tops that interfere with the normal development of the main branches.
- Trimming one third of the branch.
We correctly form the crown
The formation pursues several goals. It allows you to lighten and ventilate the crown as much as possible, which is an excellent prevention against diseases. It also contributes to the convenience of harvesting. Now most often used the formation of the type of bowl. Formation is carried out up to 5-6 years. It is extremely important to trim with a sharpened tool. Saw, pruning shears should be treated with ethanol after working with each tree. This will help prevent the entry of microbial spores from a diseased culture to a healthy one. The normalization of the crop allows you to improve the well-being of the tree, the taste and size of the fruit. To do this, you need to thin out part of the ovary, removing clusters and giving preference to single fruits. Peach prefers sparse but plentiful watering.
The best reward for the gardener is a flowering healthy peach. Planting and care, pruning and shaping, regular watering and fertilizing fertilizers - mastering these techniques will achieve the desired crop!